Power cutter



Nov. 25, 1958 G. P. HAZZARD 2,361,340

v POWER VCUTTER Filed Oct. 15, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Nov. 25, 1958 G. P. HAZZARD 2,861,340

POWER CUTTER Filed Oct. 15, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR.

Nov. 25, 1958 G, .5, HAZZ'ARD 2,861,340

POWER CUTTER Filed Oct. 15, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet s IN VEN TOR.

6 80; Z a j a1 and removal of the head being United States Patent iO ice This "invention relates to power cutter apparatus. Power cutter apparatus embodying the'invention is useful in cutting or severing any'material such as cloth and other fabrics, plastics, etc. a

An object of this invention is to provide power cutter apparatus having a cutter equipped head that is removably mountable upon the casing of the apparatus; the mounting efiectuated quickly and easily and in a minimum of time. Another object of this invention is to provide power cutter apparatus having a casing equipped with a drive gear and a removable head equipped with a driven gear for actuating cutters carried thereby, the drive gear and driven gear being arranged for driving engagement therebetween when said head is in final position in the mounting thereof upon the casing,

" but are otherwise disengaged whereby ready mounting and removal of the head is afforded.

Stillanother object is in the provision in power cutter 'apparatus of a cutter-equipped head that is removably mounted upon the casing of the apparatus which carries the power drive means, the casing and head being provided with co-acting cam means and a drive and driven gear H oriented with relation thereto so that the gears are moved into meshing engagement by the action of the cam, in moving the head to its ultimate position in the mounting 'thereof upon the casing. A further object is in the provision of power cutter apparatus as described having a casing provided with a drive gear and being equipped with an eccentric oriented' with relation to the rotatable axis of the gear, a removable head. being provided that carries a driven gear and a cam follower for 'co-action with said eccentricpthe head being pivotal relative to the casing so that the eccentric is operable to move the drive gear and driven gear into engagement during the turning of the head in the mounting thereof upon the casing. Still a furtherobject is in providing power c'utter' apparatus equipped with a cutting wheel adapted to be rotatably driven, :and that has along-the sides thereof resilient cushions that are engageable with sheet material to positively draw the cutters thereover, and that are yi'eldable so as to expose the cutting edge of the wheel. Additional objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of power cutter apparatus embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus; Figure 3 is an exploded end view in elevation showing the casing and head of the apparatus in spaced-apartrelation;- Figure 4 is a trans- 7 Verse sectional view'taken on the; line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure is a broken bottom plan view ofthe cutter apparatus with the head removed; Figure .6 is a bottom plan view partly in section and similar to that-of Figure 5, tape-tow ng fi stst p nm uat st he H99" part of their lengths arespaced the casing; Figure'7 is a bottom plan view similar to that of Figure 6, but showing the second position of the cutter head; Figure 8 is a broken side view in elevation of one of the interlocking connectors carried by the casing of the apparatus; Figure 9 is a side view in elevation of a modified form of head; Figure 10 is an end view in elevation of the head shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 11-2-11 of Figure 9; Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view showing a modified form of cutter; and Figure 13.is a vertical sectional view showing a furthermodified form of the cutter.

Referring first to Figure 1 in particular, it is seen that the power cutter apparatus is there designated generally with the numeral 10. The apparatus comprises a casing 11 and removably mounted thereon a head 12. The casing ll carries a motor (not shown) and the drive gears arranged'therewith that are usedin driving the cutters carried by the head 12. Preferably, the casing 11 is providedwith ventilation openings 13 therein and is equipped with an on-olf switch 14 that provides convenient control for theapparatus. An electric conduit 15 extending through the rear end of the casing 11 carries the conductors that are electrically connected to the motor, and at its opposite end will be provided with the customary socket for connecting the same to an electricoutlet.

If reference is made inparticular to Figures 3 and 4, I

it can be-seen that the'motor drive carried by the casing 11 is providedwith ajdrive shaft 16 that carries atits outer end a gear 17 that meshes with a gear 18 carried by a shaft 19 that is rotatably mounted within a frame 20 carried by the casing 11. Also carried by the shaft '19 is a worm 21 that engages a worm wheel 22 carried L on the upper end of a driivefshaft 23 that, in turn and at its lower end, is provided with a drive gear or drive worm 24. it is evident fr orn Figure 4 that the pitch of thelgears 21'and 22'is substantially different from that of the gears 17' and18, and is arranged to provide a reduction in the speed of the power transfer from the drive shaft 16 to the drivegear 24.

Rigidly secured to the casing 11 by any suitable means, and preferably an integral part thereof, is an annular boss 25 that has se'curedithereto by cap screws 26 a pair of spaced-apart connector members 27 that are preferably spring biased detent's. The members 27 are arcuate and conform to the annularconfi guration of the boss'25. The spring detent members 27 throughout the greater from the boss 25 and are equipped with laterally extending protuberances 28 that are directed toward the boss'25. The members '27 are symmetrical about the boss 25, and between the members 27 and at each end thereof are the spaces of openings-29.

The drive shaft 23 is rotatable within appropriate bearings carried by the casing 11, and I prefer to provide those bearings as part of a cam 30 that is rigidly V shown in the drawings and particularly in Figure '3 thereof, is in the form of an eccentric. The eccentric 30 is offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft 23 that in turn is the axis of rotation of the drive ge'ar24.

The head 12 comprises a frame 31 having depending side walls 32 and a rear wall ,33 that is formed integrally with a U-shaped carrier34 that provides a pair of spacedapart legs 35 andfl36.. I Thelegs' 35 and 36 are preferably pivotally associated at the 'pin 36a to benormally spaced apart and. are adapted to have the spacing'there'between changed by appropriate positioningofrth'eadjusting screw 7 dmp s pr na 8-e-l ez ew-it i ea of an elongated bolt threadedly received at one gnd .wheel 53 provides the anvil or backing member.

head of the adjusting screw is recessed within the leg 36 and bears against the compression spring 38, and the spring against a bearing surface provided for that purpose. It will be apparent that by turning the adjusting screw 37 in one directin the legs 35 and 36 will be drawn together, and rotation of the screw in the opposite direction to withdraw itv from the legswill permit the legs to assume their normal position. Moreover, the leg 36 is provided with a handle 36b which can be gripped in connection with the housing 11 to open the legs 35 and 36 against the spring 38. v

Journaled for free rotary movement within the walls 32 of the head 12 is a shaft 39 that has rigidly secured thereto a driven gear or worm wheel 40. Also rigidly secured to the shaft 39 is the cutter wheel 41 that projects outwardly and beyond the forward and bottom edges of the frame 31. The driven gear 40 is adapted to be broughtinto meshing engagement with the drive gear 24 whereby the cutter wheel 41 is rotatably driven upon actuation of the power means within the casing 11,

and another cutter 42 is rotatably carried upon a shaft 7 43 that is carried between the bifurcated end portions 44 of the lower leg 36.

The head 12 is adapted to be removably mounted upon the casing 11, and this is preferably accomplished by equipping the head with a collar 45 that extends upwardly from the frame 31 and that is rigidly secured thereto. The collar 45 adjacent its upper end is provided with apair of spaced-apart, laterally extending ears 46 that are adapted to be received within the openings 29 between the detents 27, and when the head 12 is pivoted relative to the casing 11 the cars 46 slip under the protuberances 28 of the detents 27, as is shown best in Figure 8, and thereby secure the head in position upon the casing. The ears 46 then, in cooperation with the detents 27, form interlocking connectors for removably securing the head in position upon the casing.

As is shown best in Figure 3, the collar 45 has a bore or opening 47 therethrough that provides a cam follower that cooperates with the cam or eccentric 30 in the mounting of the head upon the casing. The drive gear 24, driven gear 40, eccentric 30 and cam follower 47 are oriented with respect to each other so that in mounting the head 12 upon the casing 11 the gears 24 and 40 are spaced apart when the ears 46 are aligned with the spaces 29 between the detents 27, as is shown best in Figure 6. However, when the head 12 is pivoted through a 90 arc and into the position shown in Figure 7, in which the ears 46 are in position to be gripped by the detents 27,

the gears 24 and 40 are moved into meshing engagement, I

as is clear from Figure 7.

In the form of the cutters shown in Figures 1 through 8, the driven cutter wheel 41 serves as the anvil or backing member and is provided witha centrally oriented peripheral groove or channel 48 extending thereabout. Adjacent the groove 48 and on each side thereof are the traction surfaces 49 which may be provided by serrating or roughening slightly the surface of the wheel. The cutter 42 is' equipped centrally with an annular knife 50 that is adapted to enter the recess 48. The knife 50 functions to sever .a sheet of material drawn between the wheels 41 and 42 during the operation of the apparatus.

A modified form of cutter wheels or blades is illustrated in Figures 9 through 11, and in this forrn of the invention the driven wheel 51 is provided with an irregular cutting surface forming serrated teeth 52, and the This cutter arrangement is used in pinking shears and, as is well known, the line of severance formed in strip material thereby is in the form of a plurality of saw teeth In thiscon'nection,"thespring'38 is absent and the pressure between the cutter 51 and wheel is varied'by the tightness The modification shown in Figure 12 comprises a driven cutter 54 which has a knife edge 55 that is abutted on each side thereof with resilient traction members 56 that are held in position by the rigid washers 57 carried by the member 54 and held in position by the annular flanges 58. The resilient traction members 56 may be formed of rubber or other suitable material, and normally extend outwardly beyond the cutting edge of the knife 55. However, the members 56 are adapted to yield slightly when brought into tight abutting engagement with the backing wheel 59 that is provided centrally with a channel 60 that receives theknife 55 therein, and that has upwardly extending shoulders 61 adjacent the channel 60 and on each side thereof that abuts the traction members 56. In use of these cutters, a sheet of material is drawn between the wheel 54 and wheel 59 by the traction members 56, and the knife 55 functions to sever that sheet of material.

In the form shown in Figure 13, the driven cutter 62 is equipped with a knife 63 that is rigidly secured to the hub 64 by struts 65 that are spaced-apart radially about the hub. Molded in position upon the wheel and about the knife 63 and struts 65 is a traction member 66 that may be formed of rubber or some other resilient and yieldable material. As is shown in Figure 13, the member 66 completely covers and encloses the cutting-edge of the knife 63. However, in use, when the traction member 66 is brought into engagement with a backing cutter 67 and sufficient compressive forces applied thereto, the member 66 is severed so as to expose the cutting edge of the knife 63, and to thereby enable the same to sever sheet material drawn between the cutters in their operation.

Operation In operation of the power cutter apparatus, and assuming initially that the head 12 is in operational position upon the casing 11 and that the gear 15 has been connected to an appropriate electric outlet, the switch 14 is actuated to complete the electric circuit for the motor means within the casing 11, and that motor means is thereby energized. As a result, the shaft 16 is rotated as is the gear 17 carried thereby. Through the gear train comprising the gears 18, 21 and 22, the drive shaft23 is rotated and that rotary movement effectuates rotation of the drive gear 24. Since it meshes with the driven gear 40 that is operatively connected through the shaft 39 with the cutter 41, that, cutter wheel is rotated and sheet material is then drawn between it and the cutter 42 to bring about a severance of that material. The same chain of events is carried out irrespective of the particular form of cutters employed, and specifically the same result is achieved where the cutters shown in Figures 9 through 13 are substituted for the ones shown in Figures 1 through 8.

The bite or grip of the sheet material engaged by the cutters can be varied and adjusted through simple rotation of the adjusting screw 37 which, depending upon the direction in which it is rotated, will draw the spaced legs 35 and 36 together or permit the same to spread farther apart. This adjustment is also of importance when the cutters shown in Figures 12 and 13 are employed, for it permits the engagement between the cutters to be adjusted to the point that the traction members are compressed so as to expose the cutting edge of the knife. The spring and handle 36b arrangement permits separation for moving cloth between the cutter and wheel without cutting, as where cutting button holes, etc.

The traction members 56 shown in Figure 12, and the traction members 66 shown in Figure 13, provide an advantageous result in the functioning of the cutters with which they are employed, for their engagement with the material being severed permits a considerable degree of maneuverability of the cutter apparatus in this operation in that when these traction members are employed they per- Figures 12 and 13 are employed.

'5 mit the cutters to be turned quickly and sharply relative to the material being severed. Thus, intricate cuttings can be made with relative case when the cutters shown in It has been brought out hereinbefore that the head 12 is removably carried by the casing 11, and that the mounting of the head upon the casing may be carried out with ease and dispatch. It will be apparent that this is exceptionally advantageous for it permits heads to be changed whenever a different type of cutters may be employed more advantageously than the one mounted upon the casing at any time, or whenever it is desired to change the type of cutting operation. For example, often it is desired to quickly change from a straight line severing operation to a pinking operation. Further, it permits the cutters to be sharpened when this is necessary without losing the use of the casing and drive means provided thereby.

The mounting of the head 12 upon the casing 11 is brought about simply by aligning the ears 46 provided by the head with the spaces 29 between the locking members carried by the casing, and, as is apparent from Figure 3, at the same time the opening 47 will be brought into alignment with the drive gear 24 and the cam or eccentric 30. The position of the head 12 when that alignment is established is best shown in Figure 6, and it is there apparent that suflicient clearance is afforded between the drive gear 24 and driven gear 40, so that the head may be moved beyond the casing 11. In the next step of the mounting, the head 12 is simply pivoted through a 90 arc and that pivotal movement is ef fective to move the ears 46 into interlocking engagement with the detents 27. In the same movement, the driven gear 40 and drive gear 24 are moved into meshing engagement, as is shown best in Figure 7 of the drawings. To remove the head 12, those steps are carried out in the reverse order.

While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the invention have been set out in considerable detail for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in those details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a casing equipped with a drive gear and power means for energizing the same, a head equipped with cooperating cutters and having a driven gear operatively arranged with one of the cutters for actuating the same, and interlocking connectors carried respectively by said casing and head rotatable with respect to each other about an axis eccentric to the axis of said drive gear for removably mounting said head upon said casing with said drive and driven gears in intermeshed relation, said interlocking connectors comprising detents and ears and the drive and driven gears being carried respectively by said casing and head in a relationship establishing intermeshed engagement therebetween when said detents and ears are interlocked and release when said detents and ears are released from each other.

2. In power apparatus of the character described having a casing provided with power drive means and having a removable head provided with cutters, a drive gear carried by said casing, a driven gear operatively arranged with said cutters and being carried by said head for engagement with said drive gear, a cam carried by said casing, a cam follower provided by said head, said cam and cam follower being engageable during mounting of the head upon said casing and operative to establish the final position of said head thereon, said drive and driven gears being oriented for engagement when said head is in the aforesaid final position but otherwise being disengaged, and means for releasably securing said head to said casing.

3. The structure of claim 2'in which said cam'and cam follower comprise respectively an eccentric and an opening pivotally receiving the eccentric therein, said head and casing being pivotal relative to each other whereby said eccentric is operative to cam said head into a predetermined position upon said casing.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which said means for releasably securing said head upon said casing comprise detents and ears arranged to be brought into interlocking engagement when said head is in its final predetermined position upon said casing.

5. In power cutter apparatus having a casing providing power drive means and a removable head providing cutters, a drive shaft extending outwardly from said casing and being equipped with a drive gear, an eccentric rigidly secured to said casing and providing an opening therethrough rotatably receiving said drive shaft therein, a driven gear operatively arranged with said cutters and being carried by said head for engagement with said drive gear, said head providing an opening therein pivotally receiving said eccentric therein, said eccentric being operative to cam said head into a predetermined position in the mounting thereof upon said casing, said drive and driven gears being oriented for engagement only when said head is in that predetermined position, and means for releasably securing said head to said casing.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said eccentric is eccentric to the longitudinal axis of said drive shaft, and in which said last mentioned means comprise interlocking connectors carried respectively by said head and casing.

7. A head adapted to be releasably secured in operative position upon the casing of power shears, comprising a frame, a mounting boss, a driven gear rotatably carried by said frame eccentrically in the boss, a driven cutter operatively arranged with said driven gear so as to be driven thereby, a carrier providing spaced-apart legs, and a cooperating cutter rotatably carried by one of said legs for operative engagement with said driven cutter, and adjusting means for changing the spacing between said legs to alter the engagement between said driven cutter and cooperating cutter.

8. The structure of claim 7 in which said driven cutter is provided witha peripheral channel, and in which said cooperating cutter is equipped with a peripheral knife aligned with said channel and receivable therein.

9. The structure of claim 7 in which said driven cutter is provided with a pinking knife, and in which said cooperating cutter provides a pinking surface engageable with the knife.

10. The structure of claim 7 in which said driven cutter is equipped with a knife and is equipped also with traction members abutting said knife and normally extending outwardly beyond the cutting edge thereof, and in which said cooperating cutter is provided with a peripheral channel defined by outwardly extending shoulders engageable with said traction members and being operative to depress the same and expose the cutting edge of said knife.

11. The structure of claim 7 in which said driven cutter is provided with a knife and is equipped with a traction member molded about said knife and normally covering the cutting edge thereof, and in which said cooperating cutter is provided with a generally smooth surface engageable with said traction member for depressing the same to expose the cutting edge of said knife.

12. In power cutter apparatus of the character described, a casing equipped with a drive gear and having power means for actuating the same, a head equipped with a driven gear and being adapted to mesh with said drive gear, interlocking connectors carried respectively by said casing and head for removably mounting said head upon said casing with said drive and driven gears in intermeshed relation, a pair of cutters carried by said head, and means for establishing a driving relation between said driven gear and the driven cutter.

7 v7 8 13. The apparatus of claiin'12 in Whi ch said driven cut- References Cited in the file of this patent U with v fl f' with j UNITED STATES PATENTS res1hent tractlon members abutt lng saxd kmfe and nor- V mally extending outwardly therebeyond, said traction g2$ :22;? b b" blt "th"tt d f.- aas a i SS1 o e Pose. e mg e gee 2,443,027 Dishmaker June 8, 1948 14; t f l 12 h t 2,570,195 Bird et a1. Oct. 9, 1951 e apparaus 6 mm m w m Sal as means 2,578,346 Florian et a1. Dec. 11, 1951 includes twd arms pivoted together, a handle for moving the arms away frpm each other; and a'spring for urging said arms towards'each other. 10 

